So
we have finished up our time here in Cambodia.
Due to debrief coming up our month was cut short, we spent about 2 weeks
and 5 days in our ministry location this month.
This month was interesting to say the least. I have a tradition of naming a Top 10 at the
end of every month as I recount the top 10 moments or scenes from the country
in which we were just serving. Our life
here in Cambodia was pretty simple. I
can wrap the good of the month up with 3 statements: good people, good food,
and amazing dance parties. So in an
ever-increasing effort to keep my blog fun and innovative I’ve decided to
recount a “Not Top 10” for the month. I
want to say beforehand that I really love the people here in Cambodia. Our host church here showed us the greatest
picture of a Christ-centered church. The
church, full of children, hosts all the kids for dinner every night. The kids play and love on each other and
taught us a lot about what the church should look like. So this not top 10 while completely true is
meant to be expressed with the knowledge that I like this place and love the
people.
So here it is my first ever “Not Top
10”
10. The annoying yet comical habit of our driver
to honk at everything that moves as we would ride to and from school. Don’t even look at the van or you will get
honked at. You will continue to see that
noises play a big role in this not top 10.
9. We could never throw anything away. Each of us threw multiple items we were done
with in the garbage can and it was always returned to us the next day with a
“you’re welcome” look from our cooks.
8. If you are an animal rights activist please
stop reading now. Andrea Gosselin, move
on to the next blog, but sadly enough there was a monkey chained up down the
street from us. I wanted to free him but
was afraid he had been tortured and turned into an evil, people-killing monkey.
7. Firecrackers are popular here and many times
we would here firecrackers, but the worst was one night when we were walking back
from school. A kid in a bike dropped one
off in front of us. Kirsten and I
thought it might be a weird looking lightning bug, but as I stepped over it, it
cracked and scared me to death. I felt
like an old man as I said “those kids” in an angry voice.
6. We had dogs howling throughout the night as
well as our distinctive own gecko that would call for his mate every 5 minutes
5. The heat wasn’t bad at night, but during the
day it was certainly hot, up in the 90s.
Everyone told us we came at the right time as it is the “cool” season, I
guess I’m glad I only experienced the “cool” season.
4. The mosquitos at night were simply terrible.
3. On the first night they killed a pig in our
honor. I guess I do feel honored, but
for about an hour we heard the pig wail and scream and it was 3 in the morning
so definitely felt a little guilt at the inhumane killing of the pig.
2. Our showering arrangements for the
month. So we didn’t have running water,
not a big deal, didn’t
have running water in all of Africa, but the place in which they wanted us to
shower was in the same location as the squatty potties. The water came from a trough and was simply
pretty gross, so we went days and days without showering. I actually got to the point of my body
itching and I would rub my skin and it looked like eraser shavings. Luckily none of the Cambodians hated us for
our bad hygiene.
1.
The fact that Cambodians blare music at 4:30
AM as a cultural tradition. Not joking
there were only a few mornings when we
were able to sleep all the way to 7, I’ve been racking my brain but cannot come
up with a logical excuse that someone would want to play loud music this early
in the morning.
So
that’s some of the things we’ve dealt with and laughed about this month. I have really thanked God for the tough
times. And we will joke about the noises
and crazy animal stories from Cambodia as we continue on the race.
